Carving of Christ goes on show

A small but anatomically perfect wooden Christ on the cross is set to cause a stir in the art world this weekend as it appears in Florence for the first time, billed as a hitherto unknown masterpiece by the city's most famous artist, Michelangelo Buonarroti.

The Christ, carved from lime wood, is 41.3cm tall with an arm span of 39.7 cm, but has become detached from its cross. It will be on show at the Museo Horne in Florence from Saturday until July, when it returns to its private owner.

The piece is thought to have been carved by 20-year-old Michelangelo in 1495, possibly for a monastery or a private family, and to have since changed hands between private owners, escaping the attention of Italian art authorities.

Renaissance art expert Giancarlo Gentilini first spotted it in the private collection of Turin-based antique dealer Giancarlo Gallino around 15 years ago, but decided to check his facts before "coming out". His evidence, in a book called Proposta per Michelangelo Giovane (Proposal for Young Michelangelo), includes comparisons with well known Michelangelo masterpieces and analysis by medical experts of the quality of the anatomical detail.

Anatomy experts concluded that it is the perfect reproduction of the fresh corpse of a man between 20 and 30 years old. The sculpture has received the endorsement of leading art critics in Italy and the head of Florence museums, Antonio Paulucci.

But Michelangelo expert Professor William Wallace warned that the market for Michelangelo "finds" is so lucrative that one has been "discovered" every one or two years since 1900, and most have proved to be wrongly attributed to him.